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Industry's invisible guards

South Africa’s business sector has a major role to play in job creation, but is being undermined by violent crime to the extent that it is not only negatively affecting company earnings but also driving entrepreneurs out of the country.

SAPS (South African Police Service) statistics show that the business sector was hit by nearly 15 000 incidents of robbery and burglary during the 2010/2011 financial year. Crime, according to Grant Thornton’s 2011 International Business Report, was revealed to be the number one cause of business owners considering emigrating and a major deterrent to people starting new businesses. Commenting on his company’s findings in the report, national chairman Leonard Brehm said the effect and cost of contact crime on business remained ‘appalling’.

In light of this, Elvey Security Technologies has no hesitation in recommending the use of technology such as Optex’s outdoor detectors.

Says Elvey’s national sales manager Ingo Mutinelli: “Existing architecture and legacy design can make it impossible to retro-fit the latest in multi-level security systems. Bearing in mind that there are three levels of physical security, namely the outer and inner perimeters, and the building interior, the ideal would be to have two or three different forms of protection, but this is not always financially or practically possible. Which is where Optex’s range of outdoor detectors has a vital role to play in terms of preventing theft and deterring trespassers.”

Scrap, lead, copper and electronics, also highly sought-after by thieves, are being successfully protected by Optex detectors around the world. These, in conjunction with features such as recorded voice warnings, scare off the criminally intentioned, effectively preventing not only theft but the inevitable damage to premises that occurs during break-ins.

An integral detector activated voice warning function is also available to deter potential intruders at the outer perimeter. Its warnings can be programmed to escalate as the threat increases and the volume of each warning can be enhanced through the use of auxiliary speakers. Detectors are available in wired or wireless form, the latter making it possible for installation in the most challenging locations and providing flexibility for semi-permanent or rapid deployment applications.

“Business owners do not have to pack for Perth to beat crime, nor do they have to close up shop in the face of low morale and declining productivity, which is so often the result of crime,” concludes Mutinelli. “They can create a safe working environment through the use of internationally acclaimed, cost-effective detection technology.”

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